Explosive cap top



March 21, 1967 NEWLAN ET AL EXPLOSIVE CAP TOP Filed Jan. 10, 1964 HHIHIHHIHIUU W 3w W Lo m% 3 M n r f l G United States Patent Ofi ice Sill-9,813 Patented Mar. 21, 1967 3,309,813 EXPLOSIVE CAP TOP 11'] E. Newlan, 5336 Hillmont Ave., Los Angeles, Calif. 90041, and George W. Stevenson, 20651 Clarendon, Woodland Hills, Calif. 91364 Filed Jan. 10, 1964, Ser. No. 337,094 2 Claims. (Cl. 4666) Our invention relates to an improved top and more particularly to such a top in combination with an explosive cap wherein the cap is caused to explode upon the act of spinning the top.

The conventional top having a tapered body, a spindle, and means for wrapping a spin-string thereon is modified so as to provide a slidable mounted spindle member which is adapted to move inwardly striking a cap which is held adjacent the inner end of the spindle by a removable plug member. The plug member is made removable in order to allow means for replacing the cap after each spin. The slidable spindle is biased away from the cap by a helical compression spring member.

Features of our invention other than those adverted to, will be apparent from the hereinafter detailed description and claims, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

The drawings illustrate one particular embodiment of the invention, but the construction therein shown is. to be understood as illustrative, only, and not as defining the limits of the invention.

FIGURE 1 is a partial sectional view wherein the plug member is shown in elevation and the rest of the top is shown in cross section.

FIGURE 2 is a partial sectional view showing the internal arrangement of the plug and spindle with the spindle in the firing position.

FIGURE 3 is a section 3-3 of FIGURE 2 showing radially outwardly directed bores which allow the noise of the exploding cap to issue to atmosphere.

FIGURES 4 and 5 show an alternate means for making the plug member removable.

FIGURE 6 shows an alternate arrangement for the bores so as to utilize the expanding gases caused by the explosion of the cap to add spin momentum to the top.

Referring to the figures now, a tapered body member 1 is generally spherical in shape having a flattened surface 2 formed on the upper portion of the body and a second flattened surface 3 formed on the lower surface of the body, diametrically opposite the surface 2. A circular recess 4 interconnects the flat surface 2 and 3 being centrally disposed on the spin axis.

A plug member 5 adapted to fit into the upper portion of the recess 4 is provided with externally disposed screw threads 6 which are adapted to mate with screw threading formed in the upper portion of the recess 4. The upper portion of the plug 5 is diametrically enlarged and forms a knurled disc 7. The disc 7 extends radially outward on the flat surface 2 to a point short of the outer diameter in order to form a circular ledge 8 which is adapted to receive a portion of the spin string 9. The disc 7 also facilitates the removal of the plug 5 for inserting a new cap after firing.

The screw threaded area in the recess terminates in a diametrically expanded area holding a washer 10. The internal diameter 11 of the washer is substantially smaller than the diameter of the plug 5, thus providing holding means for holding an explosive cap 12. A plurality of radially outwardly directed circular bores 13 are disposed in the body member 1 adjacent the cap 12 which facilitates the escape of the noise of the exploding cap to atmosphere. A plug member 14 is rigidly disposed in the lower portion of the recess 4 and is provided with a flange member 15 which extends radially outward- 1y beyond the flat surface 3 forming an annular ledge 16 which serves to hold the first turn 17 of the spin string 9. A circular bore 18 is formed in the plug 14 and disposed on the spin axis of the top in a manner so as to receive the spindle member 19. The spindle member 19 is an elongated cylindrical member adapted to be slidably mounted in the central bore 18, one end of the spindle extending outwardly to form a spin member and the other end extending inwardly into the recess 4 to a position adjacent the cap member 12. A flange member 20 formed on the spindle 19 near its internal end provides a surface for receiving a helical compression spring 21 disposed between the washer 10 and the flange 20 to provide biasing means for holding the spindle in its outward position.

An alternate means for holding the plug member 5 is shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. The object of this arrangement is to provide a quick-disconnect means replacing the screw threads 6. The upper portion of the recess 4 would be provided with diametrically opposite grooves 23 and 24 adapted to receive pawls 25 and 26 formed on the plug 5. The inner end of the plug would be adapted to press gently against the internal surface of the washer 10 to give it a slight outward bias. The plug 5 would be placed in the recess and turned one quarter turn as in an interrupted screw operation to facilitate the mounting of the cap 12.

Two alternate arrangements for the annular bores 13 are shown in FIGURES 1 and 6. In the example shown in FIGURE 1, the annular bores 13 leading from the internal recess 4 to atmosphere are directed diagonally downward in order to utilize the force of the explosion of the caps in a reactionary operation causing the top to be lifted higher on the first bounce upon spinning.

A second arrangement shown in FIGURE 6 shows the annular bores 13 being plugged off at their outer ends by the plug members 27 and openings 28 formed normal to the bores and on the same horizontal plane with the bores in a manner so as to utilize the reaction of the explosion in a spin direction.

To operate the invention, the plug 5 is removed, a round cap such as is used for cap guns is dropped into the recess and centered on the washer 10, the plug 5 is replaced, the string 9 is then wound in the conventional manner as shown in FIGURE 2, and the top is thrown to the spinning surface where the spindle 19 strikes the surface being forced upwardly to explode the cap upon the initial act of spinning the top.

We claim:

1. A top comprising:

(a) a substantially spherical body symmetrical about a vertical axis;

(b) parallel upper and lower flat surfaces formed on said body normal to said axis thereof;

(c) a circular recess formed in said body, on the axis thereof, and interconnecting said upper and lower flat surfaces thereon;

(d) means for removably mounting a cylindrical plug member formed in the upper portion of said recess;

(e) a plug member removably mounted in said mounting means, said plug being capable of positioning an explosive cap in said circular recess;

(f) an elongated spindle centrally disposed in said circular recess and slidably mounted along the-axis thereof in a manner so as to allow its internal end to contact said explosive cap positioned by said plug member and its external end to extend from said body in a manner so as to serve as a spin member for said top;

(g) a flange member rigidly mounted to said spindle intermediate said ends, said flange member being disposed within said circular recess;

(h) a helical compression spring, having an outside diameter substantially larger than said spindle and adapted to fit into said circular recess, providing biasing means between said body and said flange in a manner was to bias said spindle away from said plug member;

(i) a plurality of passageways directed radially outwardly and downwardly in respect to said recess, said passageways allowing the noise and gases of the exploding cap to issue to atmosphere in a manner so that said gases add lift to said top.

2. A top comprising:

(a) a substantially spherical body symmetrical about a vertical axis;

(b) parallel upper and lower flat surfaces formed on said body normal to said axis thereof;

(c) a circular recess formed in said body, on the axis thereof, and interconnecting said upper and lower flat surfaces thereon;

(d) means for removably mounting a cylindrical plug member formed in the upper portion of said recess;

(e) a plug member removably mounted in said mounting means, said plug being capable of positioning an explosive cap in said circular recess;

(i) an elongated spindle centrally disposed in said circular recess and slidably mounted along the axis thereof in a manner so as to allow its internal end to contact said explosive cap positioned by said plug member and its external end to extend from said body in a manner so as to serve as a spin member for said top;

(g) a flange member rigidly mounted to said spindle intermediate said ends, said flange member being disposed within said circular recess;

(h) an helical compression spring, having an outside diameter substantially larger than said spindle and adapted to fit into said circular recess, provides biasing means between said body and said flange in a manner so as to bias said spindle away from said plug member;

(i) a plurality of passageways directed generally outwardly from said circular recess venting said recess to atmosphere, the outer portions thereof being formed in a manner so as to utilize the propulsive force of the gases from said exploding cap in the direction of spin of said top.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 262,354 8/1882 Beneke 4666 387,153 7/1888 Dickerman 4666 780,108 1/1905 Konerman 4666 2,075,729 3/1937 Kee 4666 2,721,418 10/1955 Peabody 4656 RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Primary Examiner.

ANTON O. OECHSLE, DELBERT B. LOWE,

Examiners.

R. F. CUTTING, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A TOP COMPRISING: (A) A SUBSTANTIALLY SPHERICAL BODY SYMMETRICAL ABOUT A VERTICAL AXIS; (B) PARALLEL UPPER AND LOWER FLAT SURFACES FORMED ON SAID BODY NORMAL TO SAID AXIS THEREOF; (C) A CIRCULAR RECESS FORMED IN SAID BODY, ON THE AXIS THEREOF, AND INTERCONNECTING SAID UPPER AND LOWER FLAT SURFACES THEREON; (D) MEANS FOR REMOVABLY MOUNTING A CYLINDRICAL PLUG MEMBER FORMED IN THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID RECESS; (E) A PLUG MEMBER REMOVABLY MOUNTED IN SAID MOUNTING MEANS, SAID PLUG BEING CAPABLE OF POSITIONING AN EXPLOSIVE CAP IN SAID CIRCULAR RECESS; (F) AN ELONGATED SPINDLE CENTRALLY DISPOSED IN SAID CIRCULAR RECESS AND SLIDABLY MOUNTED ALONG THE AXIS THEREOF IN A MANNER SO AS TO ALLOW ITS INTERNAL END TO CONTACT SAID EXPLOSIVE CAP POSITIONED BY SAID PLUG MEMBER AND ITS EXTERNAL END TO EXTEND FROM SAID BODY IN A MANNER SO AS TO SERVE AS A SPIN MEMBER FOR SAID TOP; (G) A FLANGE MEMBER RIGIDLY MOUNTED TO SAID SPINDLE INTERMEDIATE SAID ENDS, SAID FLANGE MEMBER BEING DISPOSED WITHIN SAID CIRCULAR RECESS; (H) A HELICAL COMPRESSION SPRING, HAVING AN OUTSIDE DIAMETER SUBSTANTIALLY LARGER THAN SAID SPINDLE AND ADAPTED TO FIT INTO SAID CIRCULAR RECESS, PROVIDING BIASING MEANS BETWEEN SAID BODY AND SAID FLANGE IN A MANNER SO AS TO BIAS SAID SPINDLE AWAY FROM SAID PLUG MEMBER; (I) A PLURALITY OF PASSAGEWAYS DIRECTED RADIALLY OUTWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY IN RESPECT TO SAID RECESS, SAID PASSAGEWAYS ALLOWING THE NOISE AND GASES OF THE EXPLODING CAP TO ISSUE TO ATMOSPHERE IN A MANNER SO THAT SAID GASES ADD LIFT TO SAID TOP. 